Guildford

Guildford's population grew in the decade to 2011. Data from the census show there were changes in religion and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 140,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Guildford increased by 5.8%, from almost 130,000 to 137,000.

The addition of almost 7,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Guildford was home to, on average, 3.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Fewer people living alone

This area saw the South East's second-largest fall in the proportion of single-person households.

Across the region, only Brighton and Hove saw a greater fall in the proportion of single-person households (from 39% to 36%).

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) households in Guildford had only a single person, compared with 29% in 2001. The percentage with an unmarried couple increased from 8.2% to 9.3%.

The percentage of households with only a single-person was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that that comprised only a single person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Guildford

The number of people in Guildford that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 22,000 in 2001 to just over 38,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 17% to 28% of the local population.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Guildford that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 95,000 in 2001 to about 83,000 in 2011 (from 74% to 60%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 9,300 to just under 11,000 (from 7.2% to 7.7%).

Just over 2,700 people (0.9%) said they were Muslim, up from about 1,100 in 2001 (2.0%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Guildford increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Guildford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in home ownership

The percentage of households that owner their home fell in Guildford, but at a slower rate than in nearby Rushmoor.

In Guildford, the proportion of home ownership decreased from 73% in 2001 to 69% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Rushmoor decreased from 72% to 64%.

Across the South East, the share of households that owner their home decreased from 73% to 67%.

Private renting in Guildford increased from 11% to 16%, while the rate of social housing increased from 12% to 13%.

The rate of home ownership was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Guildford residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.7% to 3.2% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (87%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75% in 2001. The percentage of Guildford residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19% to 9.8%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Guildford decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Guildford, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Guildford

The percentage of married people fell here, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Guildford, the proportion of married people decreased from 51% in 2001 to 50% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England decreased from 51% to 47%.

Across the South East, the share of married people decreased from 53% to 49%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Guildford increased from 33% to 35%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 8.9% to 9.4%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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